Notebook: Pallotti Relying on Experience

By: Luke Jackson

The experience of the St. Vincent Pallotti boys’ basketball team is guiding the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference team through a rough stretch in the first part of the season.

Pallotti finished 20-7 overall and 16-2 in the B Conference last year, but the Panthers are relying heavily on eight seniors and four juniors. The Panthers had a 7-6 overall record, 3-4 in the B Conference at mid-week.

Senior forward/guard Ryan Cook leads the team in scoring with 13 points per game during a recent stretch of games against Annapolis Area Christian, Archbishop Curley, Glenelg Country School, Reservoir and Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Junior guard Leon Porter (11 points per game), senior guard Payton Flynn (9.8), and sophomore forward/center Eric Washington (8.8) have also been instrumental on offense during these games.

But the Panthers’ defense, which has given up an average of 64 points per game in their non-tournament games, must become more effective in order for the Panthers to compete for the conference title.

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The Severn boys’ basketball team is getting solid offensive production from sophomore Andrew Adams, senior Will Smith and junior Tyler Thurston.

Adams and Smith both lead the Admirals in scoring with 9.8 points per game during a recent stretch of games against Calvert Hall, Mount Carmel, Glenelg, Boys’ Latin and Northeast.

Thurston also was strong during these games, averaging 9.2 points per game.

Coach Charles Duckett’s team is 8-5 overall and 3-2 in the MIAA B Conference.

Senior Marvin Smith, junior Ben Montgomery and junior Alex Testoff have also helped out during these five recent games. The Admirals’ offense has averaged about 56 points per game this season.

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The Saints Peter and Paul boys’ basketball team has a strong nucleus of seniors and juniors leading them this year while the team’s three freshmen are learning.

Senior center Gaines Shanahan leads the Sabres in scoring with 11 points per game in their last three conference battles against Beth Tfiloh, Key and Baltimore Lutheran. Coach George Small’s team is 8-4 overall and 4-1 in the MIAA C Conference.

Junior guard John Kaestner (10.7) and junior forward Micah Steinmiller (9.3) have also been strong during these games, as has senior forward John Mlynarski (7.3).

While the experience of the team does the scoring, freshmen Kemp Broujos, Drew Mlynarski and Daniel Levey are getting plenty of experience on the court that will help in the team in the future.

Posted Jan. 18, 2008